Do We Need Headshots as Writers?
Professional photos make me want to get back in bed.
Now I’ve done it. I convinced myself that I needed professional headshots for my new online writer life. Everyone I work with requires a headshot.
I understand how important photos are, having a (short-lived) photography background, but do I really need this?
I could keep using the one I’ve always used. It’s good. It looks like me, but it’s time for an update. The photo I always use is six years old, and while I still look pretty much the same, I also don’t look the same.
Is everyone in their own head this much? Ugh.
Research that says people decide to trust you within 100 milliseconds of seeing your face. Alright, cool — no pressure.
There is a professional photographer in my city that I know through mutual friends. She shoots weddings, and I reached out to her to inquire about her rates.
When she got back to me with a questionnaire and told me to choose a location and consider hair and makeup, I shut my computer.
I wanted to back out of all of this and get back in bed.
Wait, I need what on my face?
It took me a day to come back to my computer — to figure out why. Why was this so hard? What’s up with me?
Firstly, because I dislike photo shoots. Like, staged family portraits where everyone is in coordinating outfits. That makes me ridiculously uncomfortable.
Photos I’m okay with. I don’t mind having my picture taken, but I dislike being the center of attention and a photoshoot — there’s no getting around that. You are absolutely the center of attention.
The only time I’ve had professional photos with my husband was for our wedding. That will also be the last.
A location? I’m near the beach, so that was the first thing that came to mind, but no. I don’t go to the beach so that wouldn’t suit me. If I’m doing this, it’s happening where I spend most of my time — in my neighborhood.
It’s kinda grimy, but whatever. I’m comfortable here.
Makeup? I turned to YouTube and got totally confused. I know how to put on makeup but primer and hi-lighting? Bronzer? All these brushes? What? The people in the videos I watched used like fifteen different products.
OMG.
I started to search the Sephora website and then backed away. I need expert help. I can’t be buying all these products. I reached out to a professional photographer, so we’re doing this now.
It’s on.
I texted my former co-worker, who is licensed and does makeup for events. She was down to help me. Ugh, okay. This may actually work.
A portrait or a selfie?
Lastly, I was candid with the photographer about what I wanted and that professional hair and makeup made me want to hide and back out.
She was really supportive of the whole thing. I even gave her a chance to cancel if this kind of thing wasn’t for her. No hard feelings. Then I could just go back to taking selfies and save myself all this work.
That’s just it, isn’t it? It’s work, and part of this process will be uncomfortable, but that’s how we get to where we’re going.
I know, it’s photos. I’m privileged to even be having this kind of strife within myself. It’s a small problem to have, and I’m lucky. However, feelings can sometimes hit you in a way you didn’t expect.
All we can do is sit with them for a while — even just a day — to figure out why. It’s the only way to discover what we really want and why that matters.
As writers, it’s really up to us to decide what’s essential for our online professional persona. If it’s a candid shot — great! A selfie — why not? My LinkedIn profile pic is me in sunglasses with a Starbucks drink stopper in my mouth — whatever.
I’ve decided on professional photos for my future projects and website that will hopefully feel like a happy accident to the reader. (How’d she get such a great shot?)
It will be interesting to see how this all turns out. I have the date, a makeup artist (who knows me), and my favorite black t-shirt chosen. All that’s left is my hair — which I will most definitely do myself. I’m not turning that over.
All I need to do is get out of my own way.
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